tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126875740793368864Wed, 16 Sep 2015 17:57:44 +0000ChicagoIVFside effectsToo Much of a Good Thingtoo much of a good thing is wonderful ~mae westhttp://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Too Much Good)Blogger378125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126875740793368864.post-7847075275094798989Mon, 11 Jun 2012 16:51:00 +00002012-06-11T12:51:51.901-04:00getting my meal plan on<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We have been working on getting healthy, easy dinners on the table now that Lila is old enough to understand that eating frozen pizza from the couch does not a dinner make. I know, story of the life of every mom on the planet. Here are the easiest, cheapest things we have done to help get our family on track:</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1. Sign up for <a href="http://emeals.com/" target="_blank">eMeals&nbsp;</a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2. Use my crock pot more often</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have found that my biggest hurdles to getting dinner on the table are not shopping ahead of time (so there is never an easy meal with all of the ingredients at hand), not planning out meals for a specific day, not thinking ahead on busy days. No, this is not a sponsored post for <a href="http://emeals.com/" target="_blank">eMeals</a>; they do not know I exist. I purchased a Groupon (which they have been running on and off for several months...check your local city) for half off a year of meal planning. I have played around with the different plans (they have Weight Watchers, low carb, low fat, clean eating) and we are sticking with the low fat family plan. The regular family plan had too many cream sauces and cheese for me.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I try to do my shopping on the weekend because honestly, who wants to try and grocery shop with a toddler after work or even worse, in the evening after they go to bed. That time is reserved for me and Brian and my wine. I have not gotten to this point, but I have heard several friends say they prep all of their meals as soon as they come home from the grocery store (cut veggies, divide up meat, etc.) so there is very little prep on meal night. I have also been trying to use the crock pot more on nights that I know I will be busy, so I do not cheat and drive through somewhere. I saw this great crock pot recipe on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SkinnyCrockPot" target="_blank">Skinny Crock Pot's Facebook page</a> for <a href="http://skinnyms.com/slow-cooker-pineapple-chicken/" target="_blank">Slow Cooker Pineapple Chicken</a>. I adapted it a little bit and I think we have found a new favorite! Hope you try it out in your slow cooker this week!</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--5AyM-EFzLk/T9Yh5-EWvVI/AAAAAAAACUo/UMydKmVvx8I/s1600/DSCN0783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--5AyM-EFzLk/T9Yh5-EWvVI/AAAAAAAACUo/UMydKmVvx8I/s320/DSCN0783.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Slow Cooker Pineapple Chicken</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In crockpot:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4 chicken breasts</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1 jar of all natural salsa (I used a mix of lime salsa and salsa verde since I had a half jar of each...delicious!)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Juice from one large can of pineapple (pineapple in juice with no sugar added)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In your crock pot, add the three items above. After draining your canned pineapple juice into the crockpot, set aside the pineapple in your fridge for later; do not add the actual pineapple to the crockpot. Cook on high for 6 or low for 8 hours.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Evening ingredients:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1lb of sliced fresh mushrooms</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1-2 small zucchini, sliced</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Onion powder&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Olive oil</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pineapple from can</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Half package of <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/trader-joes-pan-33688" target="_blank">Trader Joe's Harvest Grains Blend</a> (you could also use regular rice but this is 1000x better: Israeli couscous, red and green orzo, split dried garbanzo beans, and red quinoa)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Shred the chicken in your crockpot with a fork, now that it is fully cooked. Save the juice in the crockpot.&nbsp; </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cook half a package of Trader Joe's Harvest Grains Blend according to directions. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Saute the fresh mushrooms and sliced zucchini in a little bit of EVOO with a dash of onion powder. I do mine barely cooked so they are not slimy.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Put a scoop of the Harvest Grains Blend on your plate, a scoop of chicken (with plenty of salsa/pineapple juice), a handful of mushrooms and zucchini, and top with chopped pineapple. Delicious!</span></div>http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2012/06/getting-my-meal-plan-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Too Much Good)39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126875740793368864.post-4909872317904709681Tue, 05 Jun 2012 18:51:00 +00002012-06-05T14:51:18.196-04:00wrangling the feral cat<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How do toddlers know the exact moment you are getting ready to walk out the door and choose it to announce "Pee pee potty time??!" Even though you have been asking them repeatedly every 3 minutes if they need to use the potty. It is like the exact moment when you slither out the door from the floor beside their bed as they have finally started snoring, and suddenly their hand is on the light switch, standing up in a half second with a "Gotcha" look on their face? Or my personal favorite, that second you click open your email when they have been happily playing with blocks on the floor for five minutes and like lightening they are at your side, "Bites Mommy! Hungry!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oLovKSZd72g/T85UFw2_fOI/AAAAAAAACTY/PaHMcyyeBH8/s1600/IMAG0554+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oLovKSZd72g/T85UFw2_fOI/AAAAAAAACTY/PaHMcyyeBH8/s400/IMAG0554+edit.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4g7F0PmN8D0/T85UNX7F_kI/AAAAAAAACTg/Mhu_rQ-G8ro/s1600/IMAG0559+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4g7F0PmN8D0/T85UNX7F_kI/AAAAAAAACTg/Mhu_rQ-G8ro/s400/IMAG0559+edit.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our life has been the epitome of toddlerhood lately. One minute Lila is sweetly staring up at me asking "Hold you Mommy" with her arms outstretched (those pronouns are so stinking tricky). The next she is throwing her fork at the dog and arching herself backwards out of her high chair in what will either end up in a perfect Olympic dismount or a trip to the ER.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B0WAs1fsR3E/T85UX4qGCTI/AAAAAAAACTo/-MxGuMZ1npc/s1600/IMAG0563+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B0WAs1fsR3E/T85UX4qGCTI/AAAAAAAACTo/-MxGuMZ1npc/s400/IMAG0563+edit.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am loving the sweet tickles and learning to sing all of the words to Five Little Speckled Frogs. I am learning to love the tantrums that I know are allowing her to better understand rules and social norms and her own place in life. The sillyness is what gets me the most, when she very seriously looks at me and says, "Mommy hair messy" first thing in the morning and then bursts into laughter trying to pat my curly afro down. I know that the tantrums will continue to spread out over time and I will not always be the mom at Target abandoning half full grocery carts to make a mad dash out the exit with a feral cat squirming out of my arms.&nbsp; But at the same time, I will soon not have the baby that snuggles up in my lap at the end of the day with her paci and Grinch stuffed animal and sings herself to sleep. </div>http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2012/06/wrangling-feral-cat.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Too Much Good)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126875740793368864.post-5336879891639732522Mon, 14 May 2012 19:52:00 +00002012-05-14T15:55:12.459-04:00feeling the love<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It is an amazing feeling to feel loved and appreciated by your family. I love when I feel that way every day. When Lila gives me a super tight squeeze around the neck. When she automatically takes her cup and plate to the sink after snack and I know she is actually getting the things I try to teach her. When Brian stands at the counter after dinner and cleans up all of the dishes so I can sit down after a long day. When he reaches over and grabs my hand while driving for no reason.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But I also love breakfast in bed. And gifts. And adorable cards. What can I say, I am a little selfish sometimes :-) Brian knows just how to set up a fabulous day...from my favorite breakfast from Foster's Market and a sweet card from he and Lila. And then, the gifts! I got a new travel toiletry case in a cute lime green Vera Bradley design, which he kindly mentioned means that I can now stop using his army green boy case when I travel. And some fabulous pottery including a new mug, fluted edge serving bowl and a small cereal bowl. Made all the more impressive since he took Lila with him to pick it out. At a pottery store. With breakable objects. He is so very brave.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This weekend was jammed packed, as my brother-in-law was graduating from Duke with his MBA and his whole family was in town visiting. Doesn't he look so happy to be done with school?</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-plqP3ZGV7iU/T7Fh8k5rF6I/AAAAAAAACQ4/Vlwu7rS5Bug/s1600/529674_10151108060372818_802967817_13135848_439136891_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-plqP3ZGV7iU/T7Fh8k5rF6I/AAAAAAAACQ4/Vlwu7rS5Bug/s400/529674_10151108060372818_802967817_13135848_439136891_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And the best, most exciting moment of the weekend was Lila getting to announce that she is going to be a cousin this fall! My sister and Peter have a little baby on the way and we could not be more thrilled for them! She took such great care of me when I was pregnant, flying back and forth from Florida and buying Lila an entire wardrobe of clothes. Now it's my turn to spoil my little niece or nephew!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yZNCvUbYuqU/T7FiM0vwOjI/AAAAAAAACRI/Kr8ZeCyrMtY/s1600/383551_850264715713_18203460_38201698_581042398_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IqfpYtPu-hA/T7FiDyScatI/AAAAAAAACRA/liP-u9zqQEY/s1600/485663_10151108081147818_802967817_13135870_355727396_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IqfpYtPu-hA/T7FiDyScatI/AAAAAAAACRA/liP-u9zqQEY/s320/485663_10151108081147818_802967817_13135870_355727396_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yZNCvUbYuqU/T7FiM0vwOjI/AAAAAAAACRI/Kr8ZeCyrMtY/s1600/383551_850264715713_18203460_38201698_581042398_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yZNCvUbYuqU/T7FiM0vwOjI/AAAAAAAACRI/Kr8ZeCyrMtY/s320/383551_850264715713_18203460_38201698_581042398_n.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2012/05/feeling-love.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Too Much Good)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126875740793368864.post-235769056077844232Wed, 09 May 2012 18:17:00 +00002012-05-09T14:17:30.560-04:00standing beside Diana<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Some of you might have heard about <a href="http://www.hormonal-imbalances.com/" target="_blank">Diana and her twin boys</a>. Some of you might have followed the horrible tragedy<a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/lifeasaSAHM" target="_blank"> as it played out on Twitter</a>. Some of you might have read the many, many post of love and encouragement from <a href="http://theheirtoblair.com/2012/05/02/lets-talk-about-diana/" target="_blank">Beth Anne</a>, <a href="http://the818.com/2012/04/i-stand-with-diana/?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+the818%2FEzWg+%28the818.com%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader" target="_blank">Morgan</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingdangerously.com/2012/05/good-girls-finish-last.html?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Bloggingdangerously+%28Blogging+Dangerously%29&amp;utm_content=Google+Reader" target="_blank">Kit</a>, <a href="http://blogs.babble.com/strollerderby/2012/04/30/hospital-trying-to-bully-mom-to-give-up-on-unborn-twins/" target="_blank">Katherine</a>.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And some of you might be in the dark right now. Diana, <a href="http://www.hormonal-imbalances.com/" target="_blank">a beautiful fellow blogger and Army wife/mom</a>, was pregnant with identical twin boys when her water broke at 18.5 weeks. She was sent to the hospital, only to be told there was no hope and she had to induce labor to deliver the babies, even though they were still alive and would not be able to survive outside of her body at this age Diana fought back, choosing to stay in the hospital on bed rest and do whatever was possible to keep her babies inside as long as possible. She fought a long, hard fight with lots of doctors telling her she was wrong. But she didn't do it for them or for us; she did it for her boys. Sadly, she delivered the boys one week later at 19.5 weeks. They both passed away within hours.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was like a horrible crash I could not look away from. I checked her Twitter feed hourly. I prayed and cried for her, this woman I have never met. And I wept when she lost her two boys to heaven. Because I know. I remember my own pain. And I know how hard it is to stand up and grieve when the world feels like it is closing in and no one understands.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I still remember that morning on August 4, 2009 when I was told that one of our twins had passed away in utero. I remember sitting in that paper gown not able to breathe and the looks that passed between the nurses. I remember them telling me it was going to be okay because the other baby I was carrying, my sweet Lila, looked fine. I threw away the clothes I wore to my doctor's office that day because I could not bare to look at them. I remember wondering if I would be able to enjoy any part of Lila's pregnancy and birth because I would still be thinking that it was supposed to be two and now was one. But I did it quietly. With my husband and close family by my side, I grieved. I grieved our little boy we named Wrigley, even though we never knew his real gender. I remember people telling me to be happy because I still had one. As if his life was not just as important to me as hers. I remember the many, many ER and Labor &amp; Delivery visits through the rest of my pregnancy with Lila, as the bleeding from Wrigley's placenta sent me through 7 more weeks of hemorrhages and pre-term labor symptoms at 24 weeks. I too had doctors tell me that meant I was losing the "pregnancy" and there was nothing I could do.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But I was one of the lucky ones. I did have a baby to hold in my arms at the end of it. A beautiful healthy baby. But not because I fought harder or prayed more or had better doctors. Diana's beautiful blog posts since Preston and Julian passed away are giving voice to the thousands of women that suffer in silence. The women that grieve curled into tight balls of pain and tears in their beds at night. She is saying what all of us wish we had the courage to say at the time, that these children were her children, no matter their gestation, no matter the odds stacked against them. We cry along with you Diana and hope that all of our little ones were waiting to welcome Preston and Julian with open arms and show them around their new playground.&nbsp; </span>http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2012/05/standing-beside-diana.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Too Much Good)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126875740793368864.post-13242223271555901Sun, 29 Apr 2012 23:34:00 +00002012-04-29T19:34:55.609-04:00ec love<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have written of <a href="http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2011/11/few-of-my-favorite-things.html" target="_blank">my love for my Erin Condren planner</a> before on this blog. But I do not think I have ever explained how serious it is to my life. If a meeting (babysitter, dinner menu, date night, birthday) is not in my planner, it does not exist. I am actually planning a new series this month with my favorite tips for the busy mom and I have a whole post devoted to this planner.&nbsp;</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Dn-1GueIIs/T53O4jj7VPI/AAAAAAAACQM/5JFG_pOO6oM/s1600/EC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Dn-1GueIIs/T53O4jj7VPI/AAAAAAAACQM/5JFG_pOO6oM/s200/EC.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><a href="http://www.plumdistrict.com/three_for_free/b027d09191/click" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Last Chance! $25 for $50 Worth of Personalized Note Cards, Stationery,&nbsp;</span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.plumdistrict.com/three_for_free/b027d09191/click" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gift Labels, Wrap, E-Gift Cards and More from Erin Condren</span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Since I am not yet cool enough to have an iPhone or iPad, I have not been able to take advantage of the adorable personalized covers EC has on their website. But I do have their gift labels, which are super cute. So when I saw this Plum District deal for $25 for $50 at Erin Condren, I grabbed it! Even better, I found a coupon code (good through tomorrow, 4/30) for another 25% off the Plum District deal. So $50 worth of EC for $18.75! Score! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While this deal does not work for the 2012/2013 planners coming out in June, I am cool with that since mine already goes through December of this year. I am thinking about getting these cool calling cards for when it is just too awkward to hand out my work business card at playdates and group events. Aren't these two patterns so cute?&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VR-oGykhfhg/T53OA8ur11I/AAAAAAAACQE/bgwwyRXwvQk/s1600/CMC30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VR-oGykhfhg/T53OA8ur11I/AAAAAAAACQE/bgwwyRXwvQk/s320/CMC30.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://www.erincondren.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=40_45&amp;products_id=387" target="_blank">call me cards confetti-bright</a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H-SiZflWOac/T525ikLyA4I/AAAAAAAACP4/iheo_TpM_Ps/s1600/CMC52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H-SiZflWOac/T525ikLyA4I/AAAAAAAACP4/iheo_TpM_Ps/s320/CMC52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">&nbsp; <a class="headerNavigation" href="http://www.erincondren.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=40_100&amp;products_id=390">call me cards candy lace -grape/vine</a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.plumdistrict.com/three_for_free/b027d09191/click" target="_blank">The Plum District deal</a> is only good through tomorrow, so get yours fast! And the coupon code for 25% off is "mom25". Yay! <a href="http://www.plumdistrict.com/three_for_free/b027d09191/click" target="_blank">Grab yours by tomorrow (Monday night)!</a>&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Disclaimer: I did not get this deal for free and did purchase it myself. However, if 3 of you buy the coupon, I will get mine for free as a referral. And I just love Erin Condren that much. </div>http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2012/04/ec-love.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Too Much Good)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126875740793368864.post-1592959574525872380Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:44:00 +00002012-04-25T12:44:36.222-04:00moments in a day<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lila is snoring over the monitor after finally going to sleep for her nap. I had to lay on the floor of her nursery for 15 minutes to get her to stop bringing books into her bed and go to sleep. When do toddlers go from sweet baby sounds in their sleep to grown up snoring noises? I do not remember the moment when that changes. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Zaxby the dog is sitting looking out the window waiting for a car, any car, to drive by so she can bark at it.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I need to take a shower and get myself cleaned up for the day, considering I just ate lunch.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I can't stop thinking about how good a Diet Coke would taste right now, but I have not had my obligatory 3 glasses of water before I am allowed a soft drink.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Why are sodas called soft drinks? As opposed to a glass of liquor being a hard drink? Why is this thought just occurring to me?</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Some days all slow down into minutes. Individual things you cannot stop focusing on in order to get to the real tasks of the day: emails, phone calls, spreadsheets, folding laundry, making grocery lists. Some days seem to fly by with the busyness of life and sometimes my days seemed so consumed with the busyness that I cannot get on to the living. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><br />http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2012/04/moments-in-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Too Much Good)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126875740793368864.post-7566920247196958262Fri, 20 Apr 2012 06:01:00 +00002012-04-20T02:01:00.245-04:00how to break the funk<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One morning last week, I woke up in a funk. As soon as I opened my eyes that morning I was irritable and tired and cranky. It seemed like Lila was refusing to get dressed just to bug me. Brian's simple questions about the day seemed to get under my skin. Our normal morning routine of an hour took about an hour and a half. And the worse part was that the whole time, I knew in the back of my head that this bad day was all on me. Lila wasn't acting like a toddler more than any other day. It was not her fault I forgot to pack her lunch the night before. Brian was not doing anything other than being a sweet husband trying to plan out our day.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So I took to the private Facebook group set up by mom's bible study. I needed some ideas for how to break the funk! And funny enough, after trying everything on the list, I slowly started to realize it was a good day. Sometime, all it takes is a little work to remind yourself that God created a beautiful day and it is your choice whether or not to enjoy it. And yes, I just pulled a Pollyanna, but you know you want to dance to some loud music drinking a Diet Coke right now :-) Here are the other fabulous ideas shared by my always-right mommy friends:</span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Drink a big cup of water</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Drink a big cup of coffee</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Eat protein for breakfast</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wear a pretty dress or whatever makes you feel good about yourself</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Listen to silly songs (my Pandora was set to the Backstreet Boys station)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Listen to soft worship music (I am loving my new CD, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sing-Over-Me-Worship-Lullabies/dp/B000GEU6FO/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1334848507&amp;sr=1-1" target="_blank">"Sing Over Me Worship &amp; Lullabies"</a>)&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Go for a walk outside or at least sit in the sun for a few minutes</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sit quietly by yourself for a while, no music, no phone, no computer, no kids</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Get your favorite lunch or snack as a special treat</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Do something fun with the kids that makes them super happy and full of laughter</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sing to loud Broadway or musical songs</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Spend ten minutes doing something that makes you feel happy (for me organizing my planner)</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What are your other great ways to get out of a nasty mood? I would love to hear your mood changing ideas to add my list for the next times the blues greet me in the morning.&nbsp; </span>http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2012/04/how-to-break-funk.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Too Much Good)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126875740793368864.post-6581830873704797272Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:44:00 +00002012-04-19T10:44:54.418-04:00flipping the pages<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I love that Lila has a passion for books. I grew up reading everything I could get my hands on. I was "that kid" that challenged myself to read 100 books the summer between my 2nd and 3rd grade year. Including the entire C.S. Lewis <span class="st">The Chronicles of Narnia series</span>. But those silly toddlers...it is super hard to keep them sitting long enough for a story. We usually just yell out words and made up story lines based on the pictures as she turns the pages at rapid speed. It's like an awesome, fast paced game. For her.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6dJ0gdVmP64/T5AkUFiSR0I/AAAAAAAACOM/_fwrN9KRKN0/s1600/IMAG0414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6dJ0gdVmP64/T5AkUFiSR0I/AAAAAAAACOM/_fwrN9KRKN0/s400/IMAG0414.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But recently she has started showing some interest in what is actually on the pages. My favorite is when she holds up the book to present us the page (thank you school for that learned skill). And of course, any book that has her favorite shape in it, The Star!!, is always a good choice.&nbsp; </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Odv_ncFRJUU" width="420"></iframe></div>http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2012/04/flipping-pages.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Too Much Good)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126875740793368864.post-519256693982674166Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:42:00 +00002012-04-12T08:42:38.426-04:00one phone call<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I knew the call would not be a good one. When you are focused for two weeks on every small sign within your body, you know what is coming. The rush to the lab for the morning blood draw. The waiting on pins and needles all day for the phone to ring. Continuously turning the screen on to assure it did not turn off accidentally. And then the nurse, with her sweet, soft voice, "Honey, I don't have good news. The pregnancy test was negative."</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After 11 IUI and IVF procedures over five years, and only one happy phone call when we got pregnant with our daughter, this should not be a shock. I have long ago stopped being angry at those who get pregnant on a whim. Stopped questioning why it is so hard for us. Gave up whining when I have to create detailed medication charts and stick myself with needles every night. But yet, that one simple word, "negative," still gives me chills.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our friends ask us how we can stay positive, how we can want to try again and again. Because we do not have any other choice. This is our path in life to our family. Yes, I still have to hole up in my work bathroom and let it all out for five minutes when I see a photo of a friend's new adorable baby. Yes, I give a nod and a big smile when people unwittingly ask us if Lila is our only child, my heart dropping as I think of all of our babies in Heaven waiting to be held in my arms one joyous day. Yes, I have to repeat the same Bible verses over and over to myself, creating a chant about the Lord's blessings and promises, to will myself to keep my head up and moving forward.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We are not done trying yet. But for today, I pour a big glass of wine, and let myself cry a little for those babies who will not be held in my arms this lifetimes.</span>http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2012/04/one-phone-call.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Too Much Good)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126875740793368864.post-894911780833075220Tue, 10 Apr 2012 06:22:00 +00002012-04-10T02:22:00.314-04:00the bunny hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3_v0H94BaR8/T4JIxVaP9NI/AAAAAAAACNU/AqPRFKcx6Z8/s1600/DSCN0641+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3_v0H94BaR8/T4JIxVaP9NI/AAAAAAAACNU/AqPRFKcx6Z8/s400/DSCN0641+picnik.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6AegzV4Yskw/T4JI03DTdHI/AAAAAAAACNc/NFBGFQjQXBc/s1600/DSCN0649+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6AegzV4Yskw/T4JI03DTdHI/AAAAAAAACNc/NFBGFQjQXBc/s400/DSCN0649+picnik.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Someone was looking awfully cute in her Easter dress! I love seeing her all dressed up since we usually spend our days in play clothes. She and the other Four Pack babies (all two years old now!) humored us uncool parents with a little after church photo shoot. And yes, there were doughnut bribes involved in order to keep them in place.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qa9DoJXS-iQ/T4JJEBzz9SI/AAAAAAAACNk/dLMBmZrt1Yw/s1600/P1030988+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qa9DoJXS-iQ/T4JJEBzz9SI/AAAAAAAACNk/dLMBmZrt1Yw/s400/P1030988+picnik.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G7tvOEAJldA/T4JJHbHZaCI/AAAAAAAACNs/Dm6Ke9J7nC4/s1600/P1040011+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G7tvOEAJldA/T4JJHbHZaCI/AAAAAAAACNs/Dm6Ke9J7nC4/s400/P1040011+picnik.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xvc9I8gTums/T4JJKLwu1PI/AAAAAAAACN0/GHclFCxRVps/s1600/P1040014+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xvc9I8gTums/T4JJKLwu1PI/AAAAAAAACN0/GHclFCxRVps/s400/P1040014+picnik.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After church we headed over to my parents for a big Easter lunch and of course, lots of play time in the beautiful weather.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4LtOcKPrZfY/T4JJnPInybI/AAAAAAAACN8/lFDtURwcqLg/s1600/P1040026+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4LtOcKPrZfY/T4JJnPInybI/AAAAAAAACN8/lFDtURwcqLg/s400/P1040026+picnik.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MHtW6eUySro/T4JJqe0xWEI/AAAAAAAACOE/_VEGyBSHDbo/s1600/P1040033+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MHtW6eUySro/T4JJqe0xWEI/AAAAAAAACOE/_VEGyBSHDbo/s400/P1040033+picnik.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lila missed all of Easter lunch during her nap which meant that I actually got to eat with two hands and that when she woke up feeling rested, she was up for a little swingset photo shoot. There is something about family being all together and eating yummy food that make holidays so wonderful. I love all worshiping together in church and leaving knowing He is Risen!</span>http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2012/04/bunny-hop.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Too Much Good)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126875740793368864.post-3058469653648254309Mon, 09 Apr 2012 02:33:00 +00002012-04-08T22:33:17.737-04:00chicago times<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Finally settled back in from our long trip to Chicago, last week was a whirlwind. Changes at work that came about while I was gone made for some long work days, Lila needed lots of snuggles after missing us and we tried to adjust to my lack of lifting and carrying while we wait for our IVF outcome news. Since I am not able to lift over five pounds and Lila now obviously weighs more than my testing weight of a gallon of milk, that creates some challenges. We had to switch her to a big girl bed, set up a ladder in and out of the car and Lila had a hard time not being carried around.&nbsp;</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wkjqIfqf2TE/T4JHBf85R5I/AAAAAAAACM0/t7v1z7Ko_T0/s1600/DSC_0043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wkjqIfqf2TE/T4JHBf85R5I/AAAAAAAACM0/t7v1z7Ko_T0/s400/DSC_0043.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dwwFjym39Vs/T4JHFUTnOvI/AAAAAAAACM8/YG2Ml6WRb1w/s1600/DSC_0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dwwFjym39Vs/T4JHFUTnOvI/AAAAAAAACM8/YG2Ml6WRb1w/s400/DSC_0032.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Regardless of the challenges the last week has held, it was a fabulous trip to Chicago. We loved staying with my cousin Jenny and her husband. The last time we saw them was Cousins Weekend in Asheville last year so it was great to catch up and hang out. We had lots of delicious food, did some fabulous shopping and enjoyed the nice cool Chicago weather. Lots of relaxing as we led up to Saturday's embryo transfer which was just what I needed.&nbsp;</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EU8ltR7fQzM/T4JHLHmQGVI/AAAAAAAACNM/0Xx6OaZe6Fc/s1600/IMAG0369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EU8ltR7fQzM/T4JHLHmQGVI/AAAAAAAACNM/0Xx6OaZe6Fc/s400/IMAG0369.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t1r7nUxwdAA/T4JHIJu1EaI/AAAAAAAACNE/100S503tR50/s1600/IMAG0365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t1r7nUxwdAA/T4JHIJu1EaI/AAAAAAAACNE/100S503tR50/s320/IMAG0365.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The transfer went amazingly well and we felt so much peace that day. The little ones floated into their nice warm bed where we hope they will stay put. We have our test on Tuesday so pray for God to continue to knit them together and help them grow, in Jesus name! </span>http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2012/04/chicago-times.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Too Much Good)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126875740793368864.post-8556095416050289926Mon, 26 Mar 2012 08:55:00 +00002012-03-26T04:55:00.280-04:00his will be done<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Some days I envy those mothers who were given the gift of pregnancy easily. Other days, I marvel at the medicine and science God created that allows me the same gift. Some days, I cry while I put away the syringe, not at the fleeting pain of the injection, but at the deep love I have for my children...the one in my arms, the ones waiting to be placed in my body, and the two already in God's arms in Heaven.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1LnswHix96A/T23XutzqqXI/AAAAAAAACMU/BvUjoH6t_xU/s1600/IMAG0318+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kC7AXhesruA/T23XqaxFvhI/AAAAAAAACMM/J6-CwfafH5M/s1600/DSCN0565+picnik+B%2526W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kC7AXhesruA/T23XqaxFvhI/AAAAAAAACMM/J6-CwfafH5M/s320/DSCN0565+picnik+B%2526W.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uN7WunydWr0/T23YdigQ94I/AAAAAAAACMc/VMCpmtdJmZ4/s1600/IMAG0318+picnik+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uN7WunydWr0/T23YdigQ94I/AAAAAAAACMc/VMCpmtdJmZ4/s320/IMAG0318+picnik+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I know that my struggle to conceive has allowed me to speak into the lives of so many women, hurting from their own empty arms. That <a href="http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/p/lila-bean.html" target="_blank">Lila's conception, pregnancy and birth</a> is a testimony to the ways God answers prayers. But some days, I wish I could trade all of the good that has come from <a href="http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2011/02/letting-go.html" target="_blank">years of those medicines</a> for two quick little lines on a test.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FqoveMqyA74/T23YmXNiXxI/AAAAAAAACMk/bWzcVnjFOtQ/s1600/DSCN0567+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FqoveMqyA74/T23YmXNiXxI/AAAAAAAACMk/bWzcVnjFOtQ/s320/DSCN0567+picnik.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's hard to think we are starting this all over again. With Lila's IVF, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into and we would have done anything for a child. But I know that God is not done with our family. Lila is meant to be a big sister. I am meant to hold more babies against my body and nurse them through the night. Brian is meant to swaddle a little one and gently rock them to sleep.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zB38ADaEIEg/T23ZZPDPKMI/AAAAAAAACMs/T0pKbjz61qU/s1600/IMAG0253+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zB38ADaEIEg/T23ZZPDPKMI/AAAAAAAACMs/T0pKbjz61qU/s320/IMAG0253+picnik.jpg" width="237" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Some days I have to remind myself why I suffer through it all. And other days, none of the shots or patches or hormone swings or early mornings sitting in a doctor's office under a paper sheet or silly crying over a spilled dog bowl of water even matters. Because this week, I will get on a plane to Chicago and go meet my babies, nestled in their little tubes, frozen and fast asleep. And God will give them life in my body in the miraculous way that only He can do. So this Saturday, pray for my babies. Pray that God gives Brian and I strength of body and mind. And pray that His will be done for our family. </span>http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2012/03/his-will-be-done.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Too Much Good)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126875740793368864.post-414376944870443231Sun, 25 Mar 2012 07:54:00 +00002012-03-25T03:54:00.157-04:00mom guilt<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A couple of weeks, I had a doctor's appointment in the middle of the day, so I hired a babysitter for Miss Lila Bean. Not knowing how long it would take and knowing I needed to run by my office to pick up some papers, I scheduled the sitter for 3 hours. Luckily for me the doctors appointment was short and sweet and I was not detained into the black hole known as the "office drop in" for very long.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After running by the pharmacy, I was left with a decision. Come home an hour early and feel bad for booking the babysitter longer so I would still probably pay her the full 3 hour amount? Or take advantage of the blessed free time with nowhere to be?&nbsp;</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9SKn3adZ0bM/T2ITpuu0yjI/AAAAAAAACJo/5pHpPAWYGI0/s1600/IMAG0309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9SKn3adZ0bM/T2ITpuu0yjI/AAAAAAAACJo/5pHpPAWYGI0/s400/IMAG0309.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I choose me time. Sitting on the patio of a little cafe, drinking a cold Diet Coke, reading a book, and eating a delicious salad. By myself. With no one banging a fork on a table or throwing a milk cup on the ground. No need for conversation, only smiles at people giving me odd looks for flying solo during lunch. I pushed aside the twinges of guilt that I should be taking advantage of this gorgeous day by playing at the park with Lila. Or getting in a few extra hours of cleaning or work. Instead, I sat there for a full 45 minutes, basking in the sun, and just being me.&nbsp; </span>http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2012/03/mom-guilt.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Too Much Good)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126875740793368864.post-3882584431548688278Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:37:00 +00002012-03-23T14:37:48.678-04:00camping in style<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Last Saturday was the perfect day for a birthday party. Blue skies, nice breeze, a yard full of colorful quilts and tents, and all of Lila's favorite people in one place. There is something so special about birthdays, that God allows us to celebrate and remember how precious life is every 365 days. As Lila gets older, I want to always install a sense of celebrating life's moments with her and letting her feel how special she is to all of us. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ckXKgPVKctE/T2yxfFTQoKI/AAAAAAAACJ0/PieLeNoSTGI/s1600/DSCN0491+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ckXKgPVKctE/T2yxfFTQoKI/AAAAAAAACJ0/PieLeNoSTGI/s400/DSCN0491+picnik.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lHip1Rrdmt0/T2yxlQnGlyI/AAAAAAAACJ8/Shkx7H-CZ3E/s1600/DSCN0493+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lHip1Rrdmt0/T2yxlQnGlyI/AAAAAAAACJ8/Shkx7H-CZ3E/s400/DSCN0493+picnik.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pIy5JH8TyFU/T2yxp8CE6bI/AAAAAAAACKE/ZSQu0C3_H38/s1600/DSCN0494+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pIy5JH8TyFU/T2yxp8CE6bI/AAAAAAAACKE/ZSQu0C3_H38/s400/DSCN0494+picnik.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k6Tysr40Zhw/T2yxuMDq9jI/AAAAAAAACKM/jhGKRc_lUQU/s1600/DSCN0496+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k6Tysr40Zhw/T2yxuMDq9jI/AAAAAAAACKM/jhGKRc_lUQU/s400/DSCN0496+picnik.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Many thanks to my parents for the use of their gorgeous backyard, my sister Auntie KK for all her creative touches and styling expertise, and to Brian's family for helping us prep all weekend. Throwing cute camping themed birthday parties takes a lot of work! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tmdta0MrmTM/T2yyZPuG6kI/AAAAAAAACKc/zadI3MIVjmQ/s1600/DSCN0475+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tmdta0MrmTM/T2yyZPuG6kI/AAAAAAAACKc/zadI3MIVjmQ/s400/DSCN0475+picnik.jpg" width="362" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--WsTDQNY7GY/T2yyc4aC_PI/AAAAAAAACKk/91--Ip60uTA/s1600/DSCN0479+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--WsTDQNY7GY/T2yyc4aC_PI/AAAAAAAACKk/91--Ip60uTA/s400/DSCN0479+picnik.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YSNHIrtzark/T2yygsfRiLI/AAAAAAAACKs/gaPOVPwiPQ0/s1600/DSCN0478+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YSNHIrtzark/T2yygsfRiLI/AAAAAAAACKs/gaPOVPwiPQ0/s400/DSCN0478+picnik.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UlkBuCn_yNE/T2y0rlTN62I/AAAAAAAACK0/vva1yuK8Esw/s1600/DSCN0553+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UlkBuCn_yNE/T2y0rlTN62I/AAAAAAAACK0/vva1yuK8Esw/s400/DSCN0553+picnik.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We celebrated with snacks and S'more Cupcakes and presents. Lots and lots of presents.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kDagpHegPfE/T2y31kv1bUI/AAAAAAAACK8/_peV3v-X8M0/s1600/DSCN0485+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kDagpHegPfE/T2y31kv1bUI/AAAAAAAACK8/_peV3v-X8M0/s400/DSCN0485+picnik.jpg" width="328" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wNgK9sp4YbA/T2y4BSwE75I/AAAAAAAACLE/fguOqgaxF7s/s1600/DSCN0497+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wNgK9sp4YbA/T2y4BSwE75I/AAAAAAAACLE/fguOqgaxF7s/s400/DSCN0497+picnik.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kfw4o8uPMaQ/T2y4FcnHu5I/AAAAAAAACLM/sgMG38G2nOQ/s1600/DSCN0500+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kfw4o8uPMaQ/T2y4FcnHu5I/AAAAAAAACLM/sgMG38G2nOQ/s400/DSCN0500+picnik.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jhLqUbOm_F4/T2y4JCs-X2I/AAAAAAAACLU/5kYUPII7_Mo/s1600/DSCN0508+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jhLqUbOm_F4/T2y4JCs-X2I/AAAAAAAACLU/5kYUPII7_Mo/s400/DSCN0508+picnik.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-19uER64IbgE/T2y4NN9KEII/AAAAAAAACLc/IKVhMHI8XiY/s1600/DSCN0522+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-19uER64IbgE/T2y4NN9KEII/AAAAAAAACLc/IKVhMHI8XiY/s400/DSCN0522+picnik.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We made camp crafts, we swung on the play set till our hearts were content.&nbsp;</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1_ub4RqP-fM/T2y68SgVXXI/AAAAAAAACLk/HwhfJDK2q0g/s1600/DSCN0532+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1_ub4RqP-fM/T2y68SgVXXI/AAAAAAAACLk/HwhfJDK2q0g/s400/DSCN0532+picnik.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IT8G6A4lrlA/T2y7BKXzFiI/AAAAAAAACLs/srNNMYlsPYU/s1600/DSCN0538+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IT8G6A4lrlA/T2y7BKXzFiI/AAAAAAAACLs/srNNMYlsPYU/s400/DSCN0538+picnik.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">&nbsp;We had our cake and ate it too.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FqVgqsNg3_M/T2y-lXmYb_I/AAAAAAAACL0/DcCBIMPmhsM/s1600/DSCN0527+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FqVgqsNg3_M/T2y-lXmYb_I/AAAAAAAACL0/DcCBIMPmhsM/s400/DSCN0527+picnik.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zMY8-IfVD18/T2y-pBN9O_I/AAAAAAAACL8/Vsi_SYZ6KN0/s1600/DSCN0556+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zMY8-IfVD18/T2y-pBN9O_I/AAAAAAAACL8/Vsi_SYZ6KN0/s400/DSCN0556+picnik.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WZtMQXM1lDs/T2zCj0EHRpI/AAAAAAAACME/ov8ANK8U1ug/s1600/DSCN0547+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WZtMQXM1lDs/T2zCj0EHRpI/AAAAAAAACME/ov8ANK8U1ug/s400/DSCN0547+picnik.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">&nbsp;We snuggled with friends and rocked babies. And it was a good day to be two. </span></div>http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2012/03/camping-in-style.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Too Much Good)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126875740793368864.post-239488595716422770Sun, 18 Mar 2012 06:31:00 +00002012-03-18T02:31:00.299-04:00pimp my slide<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This evening park playtime with Mimi and Pumba brought to you by daylight savings time. And yes, Lila has now named her grandpa "Pumba." As in Simba's gassy warthog friend on the Lion King. No relation. Nor similarities for that matter.&nbsp;</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VGOpLrW4d8A/T2IOCmLI52I/AAAAAAAACJI/BG8AgTGN7yc/s1600/DSCN0463+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VGOpLrW4d8A/T2IOCmLI52I/AAAAAAAACJI/BG8AgTGN7yc/s400/DSCN0463+picnik.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HETG9HDYb_s/T2IOIiDp1nI/AAAAAAAACJQ/rmdor3REZIA/s1600/DSCN0464+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HETG9HDYb_s/T2IOIiDp1nI/AAAAAAAACJQ/rmdor3REZIA/s400/DSCN0464+picnik.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zoRmayyFREc/T2IOaXkPCOI/AAAAAAAACJY/erA3HYYlj7g/s1600/DSCN0469+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zoRmayyFREc/T2IOaXkPCOI/AAAAAAAACJY/erA3HYYlj7g/s400/DSCN0469+picnik.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9KxnOGqSKYA/T2IOjI9OhmI/AAAAAAAACJg/A2sl33T9hVw/s1600/DSCN0467+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9KxnOGqSKYA/T2IOjI9OhmI/AAAAAAAACJg/A2sl33T9hVw/s400/DSCN0467+picnik.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2012/03/pimp-my-slide.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Too Much Good)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126875740793368864.post-7261521584857163439Fri, 16 Mar 2012 06:25:00 +00002012-03-16T02:25:00.496-04:00looking good<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Since we so very rarely dress up and there is never photographic evidence of it, I felt very proud of myself for remembering the camera this weekend. We went to a good family friend's wedding and GASP, all of the kids, spouses and parents in my family were present. And looking fine I might add. 12 pounds down and one dress size, what what!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xpskr7CP3FE/T2IKyHKfg2I/AAAAAAAACIw/84ksWcS3ACU/s1600/DSCN0446+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xpskr7CP3FE/T2IKyHKfg2I/AAAAAAAACIw/84ksWcS3ACU/s400/DSCN0446+picnik.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VMiE44jV4yQ/T2IK4h3MGvI/AAAAAAAACI4/sXGxYIeH-Yw/s1600/DSCN0448+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VMiE44jV4yQ/T2IK4h3MGvI/AAAAAAAACI4/sXGxYIeH-Yw/s400/DSCN0448+picnik.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1vQnBn3PHo4/T2IK_FWr5SI/AAAAAAAACJA/lu-2pdMzvhY/s1600/DSCN0455+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1vQnBn3PHo4/T2IK_FWr5SI/AAAAAAAACJA/lu-2pdMzvhY/s400/DSCN0455+picnik.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">&nbsp;What's your favorite dress up moment with your spouse? How often do you get all gussied up and go out on the town minus the little ones? </span></div>http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2012/03/looking-good.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Too Much Good)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126875740793368864.post-4761779580739314237Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:25:00 +00002012-03-15T11:25:26.500-04:00two years of love<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I walked into Lila's room at 12:38am on Saturday morning and stared at her sleeping body, wrapped around her Grinch, arms splayed off to the sides. I remembered that last frantic hour two years ago...finally getting my epidural at 7cm, my water breaking across the room, my nurse calling the NICU team because of the telltale green meconium, 20 people flooding through the door, Brian looking at me with a wide eyed look of sheer excitement. And then the pushing, the exhaustion, the renewed energy, and finally the cry. As she was whisked away to the corner and the NICU team, I asked over and over, "Is she okay? How is she?" Seeing Brian wipe away his tears as he hovered over the bassinet. And finally, too long, she was place in my arms. Staring into my eyes as I cuddled her as close as possible. So long we had waited to see her face, 2 years of long sleepless nights, 10 months of an uncomfortable and tumultuous pregnancy.&nbsp;</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zh-RQL5mnH4/T2IC-YjvGFI/AAAAAAAACIY/knxeWq1rKBQ/s1600/IMG955421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zh-RQL5mnH4/T2IC-YjvGFI/AAAAAAAACIY/knxeWq1rKBQ/s400/IMG955421.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We celebrated her on Saturday, not just the beautiful two year old she has become but the success of making it to this moment. Where our little girl has taken over our life in a way I could never have imagined. As we chowed down on pancakes and maple syrup "dip", my heart was full. &nbsp;</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2az12UvxFZY/T2IIrbycd9I/AAAAAAAACIg/ClmUcmTQH1s/s1600/DSCN0442+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2az12UvxFZY/T2IIrbycd9I/AAAAAAAACIg/ClmUcmTQH1s/s400/DSCN0442+picnik.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hpmHH7lH0v4/T2IIzV5E8DI/AAAAAAAACIo/mKBg19KoBK4/s1600/DSCN0443+picnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hpmHH7lH0v4/T2IIzV5E8DI/AAAAAAAACIo/mKBg19KoBK4/s400/DSCN0443+picnik.jpg" width="281" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span> </div>http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2012/03/two-years-of-love.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Too Much Good)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126875740793368864.post-3011144999873370124Sat, 10 Mar 2012 05:50:00 +00002012-03-10T00:50:02.455-05:00growing too fast<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lila Addison,&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I cannot believe you are two today. As I stand over your crib, looking at this tall, constantly moving, head full of hair child, I can barely believe that you are mine. Two years seems like a grown up, and yet still my baby. One minute you are dancing around in circles to the Fresh Beats Band, holding hands with your daddy while you twirl, and the next minute you are snuggled up in my lap with your Grinch. You repeat every word we say now and will just make up your own words when you cannot find the right one, babbling to anyone who will listen to you. You are fiercely in love with your family, asking to call them the minute you wake up in the morning and running into their arms when you see them. You have such a sweet heart, wrapping your babies up in dish towel "blankets" and rocking them to sleep.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Some times you just stop and stare straight into my eyes like you are trying to figure out how God knit us together that tightly. And those moments when you cry out in your sleep for your momma and daddy just melt our hearts, that even in your dreams you know we will come running to you.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I can see how your child grows in a moment, a snap of your fingers...one day I was holding you in my arms, covered in goo, smushed nose and that little tiny cry of protest at the cold, bright world. And the next you are asking me for blueberries and following Zaxby the dog around to give her hugs. In an instant, two years has flashed by. No matter how fast you grow up little one, always know that you are never too big for my lap, never too independent for me to hold your hand and never too far away for me to come running. Happy birthday my first born, my littlest one, my love.&nbsp;</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zr-zPGNXHeM/T1rrBRL502I/AAAAAAAACIQ/equi47Ayj3Q/s1600/collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zr-zPGNXHeM/T1rrBRL502I/AAAAAAAACIQ/equi47Ayj3Q/s640/collage.jpg" width="355" /></a></div>http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2012/03/growing-too-fast.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Too Much Good)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126875740793368864.post-1420651072921275885Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:49:00 +00002012-03-08T08:49:42.122-05:00pink is my favorite color<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I will spare you photo documentation, but pink eye has infested the house. Lila has been cutting her two year old molars and had a runny nose earlier this week. Then on Tuesday, I of course had to drive down to Wilmington (about a two and a half hour drive) for a work meeting. I got a call from my mom half way through the day "not to scare me, but Lila has green gunk coming out of both of her eyes, a swollen face and a low grade fever." I tried very hard to stay at the speed limit on my drive back.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Once we were loaded up with eye drops and oral antibiotics (for the double pink eye AND ear infection), we have hunkered down at home to wait out the sickness. I have washed every fabric surface in the house and wiped down everything else in Lysol. So far, Brian and I have been spared.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lila has been very snugly these last few days since she feels so lousy. Which is just fine with me since she is usually doing acrobatics out of my arms when I try to hug her. It has also given me plenty of time to laugh at her newest silly toddler sayings:</span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When Zaxby the dog tries to steal her crackers out of her hand, she looks very seriously at her and says "No ma'am"</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our favorite part of the ABC song, which is repeated over and over, is "M&amp;M&amp;M and P"&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We spent 15 minutes yesterday changing Oo-Ee the Grinch's diaper and wiping his bottom with wipes since Oo-Ee had a poopy</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lila likes to repeatedly stand and squat down in front of our fireplace glass, looking at her reflection and saying, "Oh hi Lila!" as if surprised that her best friend just showed up&nbsp;</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hopefully we are on the mend today and will be cleared to go back to day care tomorrow. Since SOMEONE has her second birthday on Saturday! And clearly it is time to get back to our pigtail wearing, strawberry chomping self.&nbsp;</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9dTVHzkIUm8/T1i4hwVWigI/AAAAAAAACII/K0tKABENqm8/s1600/IMAG0315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9dTVHzkIUm8/T1i4hwVWigI/AAAAAAAACII/K0tKABENqm8/s400/IMAG0315.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2012/03/pink-is-my-favorite-color.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Too Much Good)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126875740793368864.post-2867098942326413794Fri, 02 Mar 2012 09:54:00 +00002012-03-02T04:54:00.543-05:00get it my belly: pinterest edition<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have found <a href="http://pinterest.com/toomuchgood/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> to be my favorite place in years for recipes. No other blog or cookbook (other than the Bible...our Father, who art in the crockpot, hallowed be thy <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Make-Fast-Cook-Slow-Everyday/dp/1401310044/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1330563394&amp;sr=8-1" target="_blank">Make It Fast, Cook It Slow cookbook</a>) even comes close to giving me<a href="http://pinterest.com/toomuchgood/things-in-my-tummy/" target="_blank"> this much inspiration</a>. No, this is not a sponsored post. I love finding fast recipes with only a handful of ingredients which are good for my family and make big portions. Here are my favorites I have found so far on Pinterest/my daily crack.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/9429480439665570/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/86412886569966666_E9N4XiLi_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.skinnytaste.com/2009/02/crock-pot-santa-fe-chicken-425-pts.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">skinnytaste.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/toomuchgood/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Lindsay</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Skinny Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken:</b> I actually just tried this recipe for the first thing this week and it was fabulous! The green onion and cilantro was genius. We actually just scooped it up with tortilla chips instead of rice.</div><br /><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/9429480439350659/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/9429480439350659_FHayDMdX_c.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://cookiesandcups.com/pumpkin-dump-cake/?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+cookiesandcups+%28cookies+and+cups%29" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">cookiesandcups.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/toomuchgood/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Lindsay</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Pumpkin Dump Cake:</b> I am pretty sure I have posted this on the blog before. Eh, sue me. It is just that delicious. I love any dessert this easy. Especially if it has my favorite holiday themed orange vegetable in it.</div><br /><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/9429480439297059/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/9429480439297059_aLB14Fw8_c.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://chichoskitchen.blogspot.com/2011/04/penne-with-artichokes.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">chichoskitchen.blogspot.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/toomuchgood/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Lindsay</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Penne with Artichokes: </b>Shut your mouth, this was the best recipe I have ever stolen off the internet. It was one of those, "Huh, that has all my favorite things in it...why didn't I think of it?" recipes. Make it tonight. Now.</div><br /><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/9429480439293452/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/9429480439293452_KX9NRKt9_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.cookingwithmykid.com/appetizers/super-bowl-series-mediterranean-7-layer-dip/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">cookingwithmykid.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/toomuchgood/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Lindsay</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Mediterranean Seven Layer Dip: </b>I love Mexican 7 Layer Dip but I always feel like a poser when I bring it to potlucks. "I brought this great di...oh wait, you've had this before? Oh at every other potluck ever since Moses? Oh..." So this was a great way to sub the easy for a whole new taste. Delicious!</div><br /><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/9429480439600077/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/99079260521935929_bJx2b5cw_c.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.alexandracooks.com/2011/07/07/zucchini-fritters-with-tzatziki/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">alexandracooks.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/toomuchgood/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Lindsay</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Zucchini Fritters:</b> I am posting these on here as a challenge to myself to actually make them this weekend. I have been looking at this recipe longingly for months now but the idea of a fritter makes me feel all nervous and sweaty, like it sounds super complicated even though it only has like 7 ingredients. Well now I have posted it and have to actually try it. I will post a recap on Monday and let you know how it goes (accountability! haha, take that!) </div></div>http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2012/03/get-it-my-belly-pinterest-edition.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Too Much Good)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126875740793368864.post-7197047950550485066Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:42:00 +00002012-02-29T19:42:04.679-05:00nutso for potty time<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yes, I am certifiable. I decided to potty train a 23 month old while working full time, planning a massive 2 year birthday party, starting an IVF cycle (more on that later this week), juggling Brian's new job and being generally crazy busy. But hey, who doesn't like a challenge?&nbsp;</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AoOXiDNlYWg/T07FoyhOJzI/AAAAAAAACIA/8vV9WNfVILE/s1600/IMAG0299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AoOXiDNlYWg/T07FoyhOJzI/AAAAAAAACIA/8vV9WNfVILE/s400/IMAG0299.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And ya'll, Lila is working her little butt off (no pun intended) at this potty training business. Sister be all about the potty treats! Here are the details on the things that have and have not worked for us in potty training so far:&nbsp;</span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Spend all weekend in the house ala the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Potty-Train-Three-Days-Kleint/dp/0971639906" target="_blank">Potty Training In 3 Days Method.</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">&nbsp;Keep Lila naked from the waist down. This allows her to feel when she is going pee, as opposed to diapers which make it harder to notice. She hates it running down her leg (duh, who wouldn't?)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Let her roam about the house like she normally would, playing and moving around. We just laid towels all over the carpet in our living room so accidents were not a big deal.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Have her sit on the potty as often as possible. We watched TV on the potty, read books on the potty, ate snacks on the potty, etc. The first couple of times she actually peed in the potty were purely coincidental since she happened to be sitting there.&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Act like it is the biggest moment since your first Backstreet Boys concert when she finally goes. We screamed, we laughed, we pointed, we clapped. We told her how proud we were and immediately gave her a "Potty Treat".&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We used M&amp;M's as "Potty Treats." At first, every time she sat on the potty for a few minutes, we gave her one and clapped about sitting on the potty. Then we just gave her one when she went potty, whether or not it was in the actual potty. Then we only gave her one when she went in the right place.&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Never make them feel bad for accidents. As soon as she started peeing while standing up, we would run with her to the potty (usually peeing while she ran) and sit down. Eventually she learned to stop if she started, run to the potty and finish there. This is happening less and less.&nbsp; </span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After she went in the potty, we ran to the toilet together, dumped it in the toilet, flushed it and waved bye-bye to the potty and danced around clapping. Yes, we looked crazy but she thought she had just won a Nobel Peace Price.&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We stayed in the house for two solid days doing this and only put a diaper on for nap and bed. The third day was at daycare and we asked them to do the same. We have slowly been working in more time wearing panties so she gets used to having to give us enough notice to run to the bathroom and pull them down.</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Have we put spots all over our carpet? Absolutely. Did she pee while sitting on our bed today? Unfortunately yes. But we are glad we started before she got too old and realized she had a choice in the whole matter. And we realize this age is not the right age for everyone. Lila was giving us lots of signs before we considered it: staying dry in her diapers 2-3 hours at a time (sometimes throughout her whole nap), telling us before she would poop, going to get a clean diaper when she had peed or pooped, and spending lots of time sitting on her potty that was just out to get her used to it. And the day I stop paying half of my salary to Pampers is going to be a beautiful thing. Plus it means I get to eat M&amp;M's all day for "quality control." </span>http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2012/02/nutso-for-potty-time.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Too Much Good)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126875740793368864.post-5448665952053617123Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:37:00 +00002012-02-21T19:37:58.666-05:00spilling onto the screen<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Life gets busy. And I get overwhelmed. And I have a choice to make. Do I give up this thing that has brought me such solace and community and strength? Or do I forge ahead, letting my brain spill out onto the screen and knowing that anytime I open my heart it helps me grow a little?&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I choose to forge. I cannot promise it will always be meaningful or insightful or witty. But hopefully it will be some of the time. <a href="http://themommyhoodmemos.com/" target="_blank">One of my favorite bloggers Adriel</a> started a second blog where she sets a timer every day and writes for five minutes, unedited, until the timer dings and she prints "Publish." I like it. I like the challenge that exists from letting yourself write freely without any constraints, or worrying that you left a post out from some important event. And then you chide yourself for not blogging your birthday, because what kind of blogger doesn't blog about a day entirely devoted to her? And then you put it off for 2 days or 4 days or a week and then 30 other things have happened and you don't know where to start. So I will write about what I feel like. And hopefully my community will still exist. Here is the recap:</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l9yTb1In8cs/T0Q4IpTUmgI/AAAAAAAACHw/P-Xhc03zM40/s1600/IMAG0261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l9yTb1In8cs/T0Q4IpTUmgI/AAAAAAAACHw/P-Xhc03zM40/s320/IMAG0261.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I successfully made it through my biggest event of the year. As a fundraiser, it takes all year to plan one night, one night where 420 people all gather together in a room to eat dinner and dance and bid on auction items and donate money. And you hope they love it and are generous and you kind of have one eye half closed all night waiting for it to be over and to see if all those late nights were worth it. They were. $253,000 raised for my nonprofit, 420 happy guests, lots of sleep for Lindsay.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My brother had his birthday and it was awesome and I love him so much. He also has a cute new girlfriend that we all get to meet this weekend and I am excited to embarrass him and hopefully not be too embarrassed myself.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MxD3fCJ4jgU/T0Q4VT8YhfI/AAAAAAAACH4/_tDPtjNyV50/s1600/IMAG0273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MxD3fCJ4jgU/T0Q4VT8YhfI/AAAAAAAACH4/_tDPtjNyV50/s320/IMAG0273.jpg" width="233" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Valentine's Day was super fun, as my sister and her husband and my parents all got together, made our best dishes and had the fanciest potluck ever. Crab cakes, steak, lasagna, and on it went. So much better than being rushed out of a $50 fixed price dinner at a restaurant.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lila refused to wear pants today. It took 15 minutes, two parents, a dancing Grinch doll singing about how wearing pants was fun, and a YouTube video on my phone distracting her to get them successfully on and buttoned. Oh the joys of toddlerhood.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I surprised Brian and whisked him away for a weekend in Asheville all by ourselves. No dogs. No Lila. No Goldfish crackers filling the bottom of purse. It was delightful and I can barely stand to be back to real life today. </span>http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2012/02/spilling-onto-screen.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Too Much Good)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126875740793368864.post-108381746669393252Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:19:00 +00002012-02-02T02:19:00.038-05:00my favorite birthday things<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have been loving all my fabulous new items I got for birthday gifts. I must confess, it was really hard for me to think of birthday gifts for myself this year. Maybe because it was so close to Christmas? Not sure but I am super glad my family knows me and did not listen to my "umms" and "wellll".&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2rEvykPL-W0/Tymtv58Y21I/AAAAAAAACG8/NGQ1LgP_nDs/s1600/Grey+Area.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2rEvykPL-W0/Tymtv58Y21I/AAAAAAAACG8/NGQ1LgP_nDs/s1600/Grey+Area.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.drugstore.com/sally-hansen-hard-as-nails-xtreme-wear-nail-color-grey-area/qxp348819" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Grey Area from Sally Hansen</span></a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am in love with this nail polish that I got for myself as a little birthday gift. I saw it on my sister, who is of course 5 million times more fashionable than me, and loved it because it was warmer than a basic black polish. Make sure to cut your nails short or they will look like talons...never a good idea.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VQubHVyhLfQ/TymxTqJV4DI/AAAAAAAACHU/BIFY7RHXGfw/s1600/skin+sense.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VQubHVyhLfQ/TymxTqJV4DI/AAAAAAAACHU/BIFY7RHXGfw/s320/skin+sense.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://skinsense.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">&nbsp;Skin Sense Massage Gift Certificate</span></a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ya'll know <a href="http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2011/12/stripping-down.html" target="_blank">how I feel about massages</a>. And luckily, my husband does too and knows my favorite local spa. I am purposely holding on to this baby until my GIANT 420 person gala is finished next Friday. Then I might move into the spa for a week. Sounds like a good idea to me.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V12ZmiFkxEw/Tymzrr4XlPI/AAAAAAAACHc/4ojg5uXmvNs/s1600/strainer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V12ZmiFkxEw/Tymzrr4XlPI/AAAAAAAACHc/4ojg5uXmvNs/s1600/strainer.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.chefcentral.com/product/colanders-strainers/532737-786/dexas-popware-over-the-sink-collapsible-strainer-with-cutting-board.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dexas Popware Over-the-Sink Collapsible Strainer with Cutting Board</span></b></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Okay, I am a kitchen nerd. Brian heard me talking about how cool this was one day and when I opened it on my birthday I flipped out more than <a href="http://www.peoplepets.com/people/pets/article/0,,20566040,00.html" target="_blank">Kristen Bell and her sloth birthday surprise</a>. Cutting and rinsing at the same time! It is like tuna and macaroni &amp; cheese. Oh wait, those two don't go together you say? Then I am pretty sure we can't be friends.&nbsp; </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pung4jp9u-E/Tymww6ByLBI/AAAAAAAACHM/LopKae3WXuY/s1600/tweezerman_metal_eyelash_curler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pung4jp9u-E/Tymww6ByLBI/AAAAAAAACHM/LopKae3WXuY/s1600/tweezerman_metal_eyelash_curler.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">&nbsp;<b><a href="http://www.besteyelashcurlerreviews.com/lash-curler-reviews/tweezerman-deluxe-metal-eyelash-curler-review/" target="_blank">Tweezerman Deluxe Metal Eyelash Curler </a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oh eyelash curler, where have you been my whole life? Thank God my sister tried to keep me pretty because I am working hard against her with my flat lifeless eye lashes. I cannot believe how much this brightens up my eyes with just 30 seconds.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CUKw3jiidlk/Tym0jzrkF1I/AAAAAAAACHk/49LRXGeTQrU/s1600/110708label-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CUKw3jiidlk/Tym0jzrkF1I/AAAAAAAACHk/49LRXGeTQrU/s320/110708label-04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Brother-PT-80-P-touch-Electronic-Labeling/dp/B000FHYZRW" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Brother PT-80 Label Maker</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My inner dork is coming to light. And I like it a lot. Who is up for labeled plastic cups at Lila's birthday party in March???</span></div>http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2012/02/my-favorite-birthday-things.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Too Much Good)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126875740793368864.post-2843993739600624516Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:11:00 +00002012-02-02T10:05:27.736-05:00grilled cheesy goodness<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Some evenings you need to feel comforted and remember simpler days. Days of swing sets and mud puddles, with Hello Kitty bandaids on your knee and a warm bath at the end of the evening. Hot tomato soup and grilled cheese may seem simple when served at a dinner table, but it tastes like home and comfort to my family. My daughter, barreling towards two and the independent streak that it ushers in, considers these evenings her favorites. My husband and I know that sitting at our table, practicing dipping the cheesy buttered bread into red broth, teach her more than how to fill her tummy; it teaches her that we are willing to stop in our busyness and celebrate the everyday moments with her. She will only be little for so long, singing “Twinkle Twinkle” in between bites and willingly letting us wipe her hands. Before long, evening dinners at home will be replaced with ballet practice and tutoring. But last night, our family stopped and celebrated our successful day of life with laughter and tomato soup. </div>http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2012/02/grilled-cheesy-goodness.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Too Much Good)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126875740793368864.post-7348265985951567194Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:48:00 +00002012-01-25T20:48:00.113-05:00one stomach flu away from my goal weight<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All three of us have had the stomach flu in the last 3 days. Yes, all three of us. Imagine many people with lots of throw up. Or don't, because it's too disgusting to imagine. Lila and I got it first and after she got over her round, my parents took Lila over to their house for Mimi and G time so Brian and I could alternate pushing each other out of way into the bathroom. We basically spent over 24 hours lying in bed feeling horrible.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have never felt so glad to be eating something other than dry toast and Gatorade today. Although soup and plain pasta is not that much further. On the upside, I am down a pants size.&nbsp; </span>http://toomuchgood.blogspot.com/2012/01/one-stomach-flu-away-from-my-goal.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Too Much Good)0